ST MARY'S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE

EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES: ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK OFFERS FREE FOOD ASSISTANCE THROUGH ITS EMERGENCY FOOD BOX (EFB) PROGRAM, PROVIDING FREE SUPPORT TO OUR ARIZONA NEIGHBORS FACING TEMPORARY OR ONGOING FOOD INSECURITY. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH SUDDEN FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, SUCH AS NATURAL DISASTERS, UNEMPLOYMENT, OR UNEXPECTED EXPENSES, AS WELL AS THOSE IMPACTED BY INFLATION AND THE RISING COSTS OF ESSENTIALS LIKE GAS, FOOD, HEALTHCARE, AND HOUSING. THE PROGRAM SERVES LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, INCLUDING HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN AND SENIORS. THESE BOXES ARE PROVIDED AT ST. MARY'S TWO NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD CENTERS IN PHOENIX AND SURPRISE. WITH THE HELP OF MORE THAN 180 AFFILIATED PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, EFBS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD-INSECURE NEIGHBORS ACROSS VARIOUS ARIZONA COMMUNITIES. EACH EFB CONTAINS AT LEAST A THREE-DAY SUPPLY OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD, OFFERING CRITICAL SUPPORT AS RECIPIENTS WORK TOWARD STABILITY. OVER THE PAST YEAR, ST. MARY'S DISTRIBUTED 832,000 EFBS ALONG WITH AN ADDITIONAL 22,000 TRIBAL FOOD BOXES.COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTIONS: ST. MARY'S PARTNERS WITH MORE THAN 700 AFFILIATED PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS ARIZONA TO DISTRIBUTE NUTRITIOUS FOODS INCLUDING SHELF STABLE FOOD, FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY, PROTEIN, CEREAL, PASTA, AND RICE - COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE - TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING HUNGER. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, ST. MARY'S BRINGS VITAL RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO NEIGHBORS IN URBAN, RURAL, AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE. LAST YEAR ALONE, 126 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, INCLUDING 47 MILLION POUNDS OF FRESH, NUTRITIOUS PRODUCE AND MORE THAN 20,000 HOLIDAY TURKEYS AND FAMILY MEALS WERE DISTRIBUTED.MOBILE PANTRIES: NOT EVERYONE CAN VISIT A ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK PANTRY TO RECEIVE FOOD ASSISTANCE, SO THE ORGANIZATION HAS EXPANDED ITS OUTREACH TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. FOR EXAMPLE, ON ONE WEDNESDAY EACH MONTH, A ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK TRUCK SETS UP AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PHOENIX, BRINGING PALLETS OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND BREAD. DOZENS OF NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILIES LINE UP TO RECEIVE THIS VITAL, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. THIS SCENE IS REPLICATED ACROSS ARIZONA THROUGH THE ST. MARY'S MOBILE PANTRY PROGRAM, WHICH CONTINUES TO GROW IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL AREAS. IN TOTAL, THE PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED OVER 5.2 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, DIRECTLY SERVING COMMUNITIES WITH THE GREATEST NEED.SOURCE DISTRIBUTION: THE SOURCE PROGRAM IS A BULK PURCHASING SERVICE PROVIDED BY ST. MARY'S FOR ITS PARTNER NETWORK. BY BUYING FOOD IN TRUCKLOAD QUANTITIES, ST. MARY'S SECURES MANY HIGH DEMAND STAPLES THAT ARE TYPICALLY UNAVAILABLE THROUGH DONATIONS. THESE ITEMS ARE PURCHASED AT WHOLESALE PRICES, ALLOWING THE ORGANIZATION TO PASS THE COST SAVINGS DIRECTLY TO ITS PARTNERS.HOME FOOD DELIVERY: ST. MARY'S PROVIDES VITAL FOOD ACCESS EVERY MONTH TO MORE THAN 6,500 HOMEBOUND NEIGHBORS IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE IN YAVAPAI, COCONINO AND PINAL COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM USES ST. MARY'S AND THIRD-PARTY DRIVERS TO DELIVER FOOD TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND OTHERS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND AND UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO FOOD PANTIES, CENTERS WHERE CONGREGATE MEALS ARE SERVED AND/OR SHOP AT A GROCERY STORE THAT MAY BE LOCATED MILES AWAY FROM HOME. THE FOOD HELPS SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH AND FOOD SECURITY.

PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SMFB NMTC SUPPORT CORP, A RELATED ARIZONA 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ENTITY. FUNDS WILL BE USED TO FACILITATE THE NEW MARKETS TAX CREDIT ("NMTC") PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM WILL GENERATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH WILL BE USED FOR THE RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FOOD DISTRIBUTION CAMPUS.